MEETING UP WITH HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE AND FORMER BABYSITTER !!

It was difficult finding a motel room for Friday night and wondered if we would have to go clear home instead.  However, after leaving W Palm Beach's prices of $229. and up per night or no room at all, we drove about sixty miles north and found one for $129.  Guess it is the beginning of Spring Breaks.  Deciding that we would not do any better, we took it and had a good night's rest after dinner at Red Lobster.  They were less than two minutes apart, so ideal!!  And I have been craving those seafood menus that we see on TV for quite some time.
Saturday morning after a slow start we began our trip back to Bushnell.  We passed the road to Sebring International Raceway and decided to turn around and go back to see what might be going on there. 

Just looked like some try-outs so we did not try to get beyond the gates.  The hotel that you see here is right by the track, and there is an airport nearby.  Guess when the big races are on, all needs can be met. 
With our curiosity satisfied, we headed on to Winter Haven where we had good reason to believe that a high school classmate of Gary's lived.  I had tried to reach Nancy by phone but the number was not correct (turned out to be only one digit off).  So we put her address in the GPS and finding her home, we knocked on the door.  Was she surprised!!  We had not seen her since she had baby sat our boys in her home in Salem back in 1975 or '76. 
Interrupting her housecleaning, we sat down for a wonderful visit of catching up on our children and lives in general.  When her husband, Dave, returned home, Gary was enthused to find his primary interest since retiring is his Classic/Antique Cars!!  Thus the conversation goes on. 
After about two hours we decided that it was time to move on toward home.  But not before taking pictures of them beside one of his cars. 

Dave and Nancy beside his blue and white "Love"
and Gary's "Dream".

We had noticed when we first drove up that this car took priority in the garage. 
We were so in awe that they have been in Winter Haven for 38 or 39 years now!!  I had not realized that so much time had passed.  We told them about going to Salem Ohio Day and they told us that there is also a Lisbon Ohio Day somewhere in Florida.  So it is always great to keep in touch with those from back home.  Dave had been transferred here with Deming Crane back in the '70's and their three boys grew up in school in Florida and are doing very well here.  Nancy is still teaching and loving every minute of it, and also teaching swimming in their home pool to many young ones.
We will agree that it is much nicer country than we would ever have imagined before we first came here in 2009.  So this was a very nice finish to a four day excursion while here in Florida.

Check back and see what we have found to do this week, trying to crowd in what we can before moving on.  Our three months are winding down!!